Call for ‘American only’ Costco hours to end

Shopping and waiting … and waiting … at Costco. (Photo is from a Miami Costco, by Creative Commons Flickr user miamism).

That was quick.

A Facebook page in support of “American only” hours at a Bellingham, Wash. Costco – in response to the store’s many Canadian shoppers – is ending, after attracting 4,600 likes and many heated comments.

The administrator of the page, begun in July, said the “negative” comments had gone “overboard.” This was despite the page’s many posts grumbling about Canadians hogging up parking spots, cheap American milk and space in the gas line at the Costco near the border.

The rants also generated counter-tirades on xenophobic, short-sighted Americans, touching on everything from the economy to gun control. Much of the page’s content has since been removed.

“I am shutting (the page) down primarily because of the ignorant press/canadian/american negative connotations it has received,” the administrator wrote Wednesday.

How does Costco do it? It has 600 stores, $93 billion in annual sales and millions of loyal customers, despite no advertising and charging customers a fee to shop.

How does Costco do it? It has 600 stores, $93 billion in annual sales and millions of loyal customers, despite no advertising and charging customers a fee to shop.

Photo: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Image 2 of 16

About 3 million people shop at Costco a day, where the merchandise changes frequently and aisles are purposely unlabelled. (So it feels more like a treasure hunt?)

About 3 million people shop at Costco a day, where the merchandise changes frequently and aisles are purposely unlabelled. (So it feels more like a treasure hunt?)

Photo: Chris Hondros / Getty Images

Image 3 of 16

On top of looking at the “Costco craze,” CNBC delves into the “Costco effect,” otherwise known as the “routine tendency” to spend more than you had wanted.

On top of looking at the “Costco craze,” CNBC delves into the “Costco effect,” otherwise known as the “routine tendency” to spend more than you had wanted.

Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Image 4 of 16

Ready for 'Kirkland Signature' vodka? In June, Costco started selling spirits in Washington state, after voters approved a measure to privatize the booze business. Costco poured a record-setting $22 million into the initiative. Photo: Costco. less

Ready for 'Kirkland Signature' vodka? In June, Costco started selling spirits in Washington state, after voters approved a measure to privatize the booze business. Costco poured a record-setting $22 million ... more

Image 5 of 16

Costco is a big player in the wine industry, selling more than a $1 billion a year in wine, more than any other retailer in the world. Wines include global labels and Costco’s “Kirkland Signature” brand.

Costco is a big player in the wine industry, selling more than a $1 billion a year in wine, more than any other retailer in the world. Wines include global labels and Costco’s “Kirkland Signature” brand.

Photo: GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP/Getty Images

Image 6 of 16

Costco’s No.1 selling product is, you guess it, toilet paper. The company sells more than a billion rolls a year. That's $4 billion in toilet paper and enough rolls to wrap around the earth 1,200 times, says CNBC. less

Costco’s No.1 selling product is, you guess it, toilet paper. The company sells more than a billion rolls a year. That's $4 billion in toilet paper and enough rolls to wrap around the earth 1,200 times, says ... more

Photo: Chris Hondros / Getty Images

Image 7 of 16

Ever wonder how Costco decides what to sell? CNBC goes inside Costco’s lab to film workers testing stuff like chocolate and toilet paper. (Don’t worry, no one’s in the bathroom). “Feel it, and crunch it like this,” one worker says of toilet paper. “Can you feel the difference?” less

Ever wonder how Costco decides what to sell? CNBC goes inside Costco’s lab to film workers testing stuff like chocolate and toilet paper. (Don’t worry, no one’s in the bathroom). “Feel it, and crunch ... more

Photo: Chris Hondros / Getty Images

Image 8 of 16

Costco sells $4 billion in produce a year, and ...

Costco sells $4 billion in produce a year, and ...

Photo: GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP/Getty Images

Image 9 of 16

55 million rotisserie chickens and ...

55 million rotisserie chickens and ...

Photo: Tim Boyle / Getty Images

Image 10 of 16

2.6 billion gallons of gas and …

2.6 billion gallons of gas and …

Photo: Tim Boyle / Getty Images

Image 11 of 16

nearly $2 billion in TVs and …

nearly $2 billion in TVs and …

Photo: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Image 12 of 16

... about $200 million in toys. CNBC follows Costco’s toy-buying team as it narrows down more than a thousand toys to just a handful to sell. Sounds kinda stressful.

... about $200 million in toys. CNBC follows Costco’s toy-buying team as it narrows down more than a thousand toys to just a handful to sell. Sounds kinda stressful.

Photo: Tim Boyle / Getty Images

Image 13 of 16

Despite never marking up products by more than 15 percent, Costco has become one of the country’s top three retailers and the world’s largest membership warehouse chain.

Despite never marking up products by more than 15 percent, Costco has become one of the country’s top three retailers and the world’s largest membership warehouse chain.